Public Health in the United States - Essay Example

An American society without insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid will be a worried and deprived society. It is worth acknowledging that even though American society is among the richest and well-to-do societies, some people in the lower social class cannot afford healthcare bills without any form of health insurance. Individuals in this social class will always find themselves in trouble whenever they fall sick with the soaring cost of healthcare. A section of the American population cannot even finance their health premiums.

It is because of this kind of disparity in American society that necessitated the creation and formation of special statutes like the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA). These special statutes provide a roadmap for affordable and easily accessible healthcare for less privileged American citizens. For example, EMTALA advocates for free and quick health care provision to persons in dire need of medical attention but have no money or insurance cover offset their hospital bills (Schecter).

Indeed, the years during the existence of our grandparents, the prevalence of infectious diseases was of great concern to the members of various societies. However, these fears came to pass upon the rise in innovation and expansive research conducted to identify viable ways to eradicate the threats. The curiosity, expansive research, and increased innovation led to the development of antitoxins and vaccinations that provided immunizations against various communicable diseases. Before the industrial revolution, traditional societies relied on herbs and witchcraft for medicinal and protective purposes without any form of diagnosis.